still here, problems posting

Last week I was having trouble staying logged in and posting comments on other blogs.

This week, it won't let me post a new entry here! Sheesh.

summer breeze

Sun is shining, garden is taking off like a flock of startled ducks. After a soggy political spring, a hot backyard summer is underway at last. Breeze does nothing to cool, unless you're right under the fan.

I'm a fan of A/C!

I'm also a fan of Blogger forums, where you can get useful advice when a problem turns up. Many thanks to nitecruzr for helping me with my log-in issue!

after the fact, where next?

I suppose it's fair to say I'm extremely disappointed by last night's election results. Not all of the results, by any means, but certainly by the fact that fewer than 40% of voters were able to achieve a majority Conservative government. Harpocrism rules, apparently.

It was less of a shock, in fact somewhat of a pleasant surprise, that the NDP are now the official opposition, and that both the Liberals and BQ crashed and burned. Also that Elizabeth May of the Green Party finally won a seat. A few rays of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy evening. (Even the weather is depressed.)

While it seems obvious to many that the remnant Liberals need to meld with the emergent NDP, so that next time the neo-Cons can't swan up the middle of a split vote (like the Liberals used to do when the old PC and Reform party split the vote on the right), it will probably take a lot of hammering to get this notion through the thick political skulls of the Liberals, a force for so long but an outmoded one. For politics in this country is changing, just as it is around the world. We saw it in the late-breaking NDP surge, founded largely through social media and engaging many new young voters.

Harper Government 3 would have Canada move in the direction that the USA has already gone (and regretted) -- more prisons (while our crime rate declines), more religion in politics (where we've NEVER had it before), more military spending (without accountability), fewer rights for the middle class, stifling public services, less access to assistance for students & women & families, privatization of just about everything. And, worst of all, making us wary of an incipient fascist dictatorship (he'd really like to be a president), Harper will continue his policy of silence, muzzling his caucus and public servants to keep the truth of what their supposedly representative government is actually doing, and for whom (multinational corporations & the oil patch, predominantly). Look for more US-style and US-compliant legislation on copyright and access to cultural institutions and communications technology, for example. We're already laughable on the world stage as an economic satellite of the USA. How far down that road can we go and maintain our sovereignty?

My poor country...what on earth are we going to look like after the next 4 years?

return of the traveller

It's been just over a week since my Guatemala-traveller returned, a little thin & worn-out, but very excited about all he'd seen and done. We've rested him & fed him up and he's about ready to take off again.

His blog is in my list of links, Jungle Jim Journeys, and it's an interesting (if poorly spelled) saga, with just a few of his many excellent pictures.

As a projected 10-15 cm of fluffy snow descends, I find myself wishing for the warm, although not in Guatemala, please & thanks.

one trip done, one progressing

I did eventually hear from my traveller, who had some difficulties with his connection in Guatemala, but has been emailing regularly ever since, mainly from Xela, where they have been building cooking/heating stoves in the highland villages, in partnership with AMMID, a local women's organization. It isn't all hard labour though, since they've also been touring a bit, both in the mountains and the tropics on the Pacific coast, and have the last few days for a bit more sightseeing and shopping. My curiosity as to what he'll return with is growing daily. Guatemalans are famed for colorful weaving and other Mayan crafts, and their coffee is superb. I also have it on good authority that they make excellent rum, and plan to drop a few hints for his shopping bag!

He reports that they have had good weather and wonderful food, but that all of the coffee must go for export since the local version is of the Nescafe variety. Too bad that the locals can't enjoy their own produce. It's a crazy world. Their team, many of whom have been doing this for several years, gets a warm welcome and amazing hospitality from the local communities. I really like hands-on aid organizations, they're the best.

My own trip, to Jacksonville FL, went extremely well. I managed the 2.5 hour drive from & back to Orlando quite well, although it was a little stressful. I'm not accustomed to driving such a long time, and the rest stops weren't frequent enough on the interstate highways. A couple of times I didn't think I'd make it to the next one, but I did. Drove a Toyota Yaris, not bad but I wouldn't buy one. Uncomfortable.

Visited friends I don't get to see nearly often enough, although we email regularly. They've got a place to the south of Jacksonville, also a beach house above Daytona. I spent the week with my friend as she shuttled kids to & from events, we saw a couple of films (The King's Speech & Black Swan), visited the beach house, toured parks & museums, and just spent time together chatting. It was lovely. I wish she lived down the road instead of hundreds of miles away.

Meanwhile, all was well at home on my return, and I'm awaiting the return of my traveller on Saturday. I hope his connections are good, and on time.

no news is good news?

Haven't yet heard from my traveller, who should be in Guatemala & well on his way by now. None of the other bloggers have posted since arriving though, so I'm assuming that they've all got there ok & are (a) too busy (b) not in the vicinity of an interente cafe (c) not thinking about blogging!

The other traveller is a little nervous about tomorrow's trip, but once on the plane the jitters will no doubt vanish.

And as I said above, no news is good news!

rattling around

My house feels very big and empty today. I'm used to being the one who goes away!